Award-winning vocalist Judy Collins[2], who grew up in Denver, returned to the Mile High City to help the Loretto Community[3] celebrate the 200th anniversary of its founding.

Her performance was part of the Loretto Gala held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center, which is built on what had been the site of the first Loretto school in Colorado, St. Mary’s Academy[4]. St. Mary’s Academy granted the first high school diploma in territorial Colorado.

The event, says Sister Lydia Pena, was “magical and inspirational” and drew a crowd of 500-plus. Doug Tisdale, the mayor of Cherry Hills Village, was master of ceremonies.

[5]

Regis University president John FitzGibbons presents the Civis Princeps Award to Loretto Community president Cathy Mueller.

The Loretto Community began in 1812, when it was called Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross. That name eventually gave way to Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross and the current Loretto Community. The Catholic order focuses on justice and peace, the environment and education.

Welcoming remarks were extended by Loretto Community president Cathy Mueller, who also shared a letter of congratulations from the Archbishop of Denver, Samuel Aquila. Gracie Carr, a professional singer and staff member at St. Mary’s Academy, delivered a musical blessing; Regis University[6] president John Figzgibbons presented the Civis Princeps (First Citizen) Award to the members of the local Loretto Community, thanking them for their service to the people of Denver.

Jeweler John Atencio[7] designed and donated a pendant necklace, Finding the Heart, in honor of the occasion; it was the grand prize in a raffle drawing. In addition, a donor who asked to remain anonymous offered to match money donated to the Loretto Community, up to $100,000, between now and Dec. 31.

Collins, who was 10 when her father accepted a job in Denver in 1949, sang for nearly an hour, performing “Some of her old favorites as well as those which had particular meaning for her and the assembled group,” according to Sister Lydia. “Her final selection in which all joined was a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace.”

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Cherry Hills Village Mayor Doug Tisdale.

Those attending the event included Denver City Auditor Dennis Gallagher; Merle Chambers[9], a member of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and president of the Chambers Family Fund; Juvenile District Court Judge David Ramirez and his wife, Lydia;Rocky Mountain PBS[10] president Doug Price and his wife, Hazel; philanthropist LaFawn Biddle;Bonfils-Stanton Foundation[11] director Dorothy Horrell and her husband, Ted; Deirdre Cryor, the president of St. Mary’s Academy; homebuilder Jim Kroll; George and Marion Curtis; Jim and Jackie Davis; Marla Williams, president of the Community First Foundation[12]; and Alice Kelly, vice chair of the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation.